Fuel reservoir for cigarette lighters



llan. 25, E949. H. KNOX 2,460,180

FUEL RESERVOIR FOR CIGARETTE LIGHTERS Filed OCL1 8, 1945 29 y/29 /22 n del Patented Jan. 2 5, 1949` .UNITED STATES PATENT oFFlcE Harry Knox, Mechanicsburg, sa.

Application October 8, 1945, Serial No. 620,973

3 Claims. (Cl. 67-81) This invention lrelates to a fuel reservoir for cigarette lighters.

A primary object of this invention is the provision of an improved cigarette lighter having contained therein an auxiliary reservoir for f uel, to supplement the supply of fuel normally carried in the wick compartment of such a lighter.

An additional object of the invention is the provisionof such a lighter provided with an improved Valve means establishing communication between the auxiliary reservoir and the wick compartment, whereby additional fuel may be admitted to the wick compartment as desired.

Other objects reside in the combinations of elements, arrangements of parts, and features of construction, all as will be more fully pointed out hereinafter and shown in the accompanying drawings, wherein there is disclosed a preferred embodiment of this inventive concept.

In the drawings: Y A

Figure lis a side view, partially in elevation and partially in section, disclosing the lighter of the instant invention,

Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of the rotary valve mechanism in one position of adjustment,

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 3-3-of Figure 2 as viewed in the direction indicated by the arrows,

Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure l2 but showing certain of the parts in a different position of adjustment, and l Figure 5 is a sectional view taken substantially t along the line 5-5 of Figure 4, as viewed in the direction indicated by the arrows.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views of the drawing.

Having reference now to the drawing, th lighter of the instant invention is comprised of a receptacle III, provided with a horizontally extending partition II forming a wick-containing compartment I2, within which is a wick I3, and the customary cotton batting Il. The partition II also definesl the upper extremity of a reservoir compartment I5, adapted to be lled with fuel through an inlet closed by a cap I6. The

customary dint-containing tube I1 extends up-v wardly from the base of the receptacle I0 through the tube compartments I2 and I5 to the upper extremity of the lighter where a flint is exposed to the customary ratchet wheel (not shown). The operating mechanism of the light- 2 desired conventional design, operated by any desired type of conventional trip or release I8.

Positioned in the wick-containing receptacle I2 is a cylindrical valve generally indicated at 20, and comprised of a fixed outer cylinder 2| and a rotatable inner cylinder 22. A rod 23 secured to the base of the inner cylinder 22 extends outwardly through the base of receptacle I0 and terminates in a transverse member 24 forming a portion of a D-ring schematically indicated at 25, adapted to seat in a suitable recess in the base, which D-ring may be rotated outwardly to the position indicated in dotted lines in Figure 1 for rotation of the shaft 23, and consequent rotation of the inner cylinder 22.

The outer cylinder 2| is provided with two ports 26 and 21, vertically aligned. The larger port 26 located adjacent the base of the cylinder provides a fuel outlet, while the smaller port 21 provides an air inlet to preclude the formation of a vacuum in the valve.

The inner cylinder 22 is provided in the horizontal plane of the fuel outlet 26 with a port 28, adapted under certain conditions to register with the'port 26 to permit the ilow of fuel from the interior cylinder 22 into the wick-containing compartment I2. Two ports 29 and 29' are'also provided in the upper portion of the cylinder 22, adapted to register with the air vent port 21. The base 3|! of the cylinder 22 is also provided with an inlet port 3|, adapted, under certain conditions, to register with port 32 extending through the partition Il.

In the use and operation of the device, the inner cylinder22 is normally positioned, as shown in Figure 4, with ports II and 32 in alignment, and with the vent port 29 in alignment with the port 21. With the parts in this position, when it is desired to supply additional fuel to the wickcontaining compartment, the lighter is inverted permitting' iluid to ilow from the fluid-containing chamber I5 through -the ports 32 and 3| into the inner cylinder 22. When the inner cylinder 22 is filled, it is turned by means of the D-ring 25 to the position shown in Figure 2, closing the port 32, to preclude the passage of fuel from the cylinder back into the receptacle I5 when the lighter -is reinverted, and aligning the ports 26 and 28.

In this position, the vent port 29 isplaced adjacent the port 21 to preclude the formation of a vacuum. Obviously, the liquid in the inner cylinder will now flow out through the ports 28 and 28 into the wick-containing chamber I2.

From the foregoing, it-wlll now be seen that there is herein provided an improved lighter characterixed by relatively great fuel-carrying capacity, which fuel may be readily applied to the wick as necessary, which accomplishes all the objects of this invention, and others, including many advantages of great practical utility and commercial importance.

As many embodiments may be made of this inventive concept, and as many modiilcations may be made in the embodiment hereinbefore shown and described, it is to be understood that all matter herein is to be interpreted merely as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

I claim:

1. In a cigarette lighter, a hollow body including sides, a top and a bottom, a partition in said body dividing the interior into a wick-containing compartment and a fuel reservoir, said partition havinga port therein, and valve means controllable from the exterior of the body governing the admission of fuel from said reservoir to said wickcontaining compartment, said valve means comprising coaxial inner and outer cylinders having ports in the sides thereof, and means attached to said inner cylinder extending through said partition, fuel reservoir and the bottom of said housvalve means controllable from the exterior of the 35 Number body governing the admission of fuel from said "4 reservoir to said wick-containing compartment, said valve means comprising coaxial inner and outer cylinders having ports in the sides thereof, and means for rotating said inner cylinder to align said ports, said inner cylinder including a base having a port therein adapted to be aligned with said port in said partition to admit fuel to said inner cylinder, said base'being adapted to close said port and s'aid partition when said ports in the sides of said cylinder are aligned.

3. In a cigarette lighter, a body member, a partition in said body member defining a fuel tank and a wick compartment, a rotary valve in said wick compartment, said valve comprising a second fuel tank journaled on said partition, an aperture in said partition, an aperture in said second fuel tank adapted to be selectively aligned with said partition aperture upon rotation of said second tank, a housing encasing said second tank, a port therein and a port in said second tank adapted to be aligned with said housing port upon rotation of said second tank.

HARRY KNOX.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le Iof this patent:

l UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,145,230 Arrighi Jan. .31, 1939 2,211,500 Gabritsch Aug. 13, 1940 FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date 484,786 France Aug. 14, 1917 

